Weinberg Angle, Neutron Abundance in BBN, and Lifetime

TL;DR

This paper explores how the Weinberg angle affects neutron abundance and lifetime during Big-Bang nucleosynthesis, considering potential environmental dependencies of fundamental constants.

Contribution

It establishes the influence of the Weinberg angle on BBN and neutron lifetime, highlighting its potential environmental dependence.

Findings

Weinberg angle impacts neutron abundance in BBN.

Neutron lifetime varies with the Weinberg angle.

Environmental factors may alter fundamental constants.

Abstract

The Big-Bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) initial neutron abundance and the neutron lifetime depend on the magnitude of the Fermi coupling constant $G_F$. When allowing for radiative corrections, $G_F$ depends on the symmetry breaking Weinberg angle $s_\mathrm{W}$, a free parameter in the standard model of particle physics which could have considerable environmental (e.g. cosmological or temperature) dependence. We establish how the value of $s_\mathrm{W}$ influences BBN and neutron lifetime.